03/16/2026
We are excited to welcome Whitney as the new Director of the Highland Rivers Foundation!
Welcome, Whitney! Highland Rivers Foundation Welcomes New Director
The Highland Rivers Foundation welcomes Whitney Spear, MPA, CNP, as its new director. Whitney brings nearly a decade of experience in nonprofit leadership and development, along with a strong commitment to community service across North Georgia.
Most recently, Whitney led development efforts at History Cherokee, where she was responsible for fundraising, donor relations, and overall resource development strategy. During her tenure, she built and scaled the organization’s development infrastructure, launched multi-channel fundraising campaigns, strengthened donor stewardship practices, and worked closely with board leadership to align fundraising priorities with long-term organizational goals. Notably, she also launched History Cherokee’s endowment and secured pledged gifts to establish long-term financial sustainability.
Whitney holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Services with a specialization in Nonprofit Management and Social Innovation, as well as a Master of Public Administration, both from Kennesaw State University. Her background also includes experience in higher education at Kennesaw State University and Reinhardt University, where she supported academic programming, student success, and institutional advancement.
In addition to her professional experience, Whitney is actively engaged in nonprofit and civic leadership throughout Cherokee County and the broader region. She currently serves as Vice President of the Board of Directors for the Anna Crawford Children’s Center, Trustee and Development Committee Chair for the Goshen Valley Foundation, and as a board member of the Cherokee County Educational Foundation. She is also a member of the Rotary Club of Canton and a graduate of Leadership Cherokee, Class of 2025.
In her role as Foundation Director, Whitney will guide the strategic direction of the Foundation’s philanthropic efforts, with an emphasis on cultivating high-impact partnerships, increasing visibility of the Foundation’s mission, and advancing transformative initiatives that directly support Highland Rivers’ priorities. This includes leadership of the capital campaign supporting Mothers Making a Change.
💛 Please join us in welcoming Whitney to the Highland Rivers team! 💛
About the Highland Rivers Foundation:
The Highland Rivers Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 2018 to help fulfill the mission of Highland Rivers Behavioral Health (HRBH), a state-designated provider of behavioral health services that currently serves more than 21,000 economically disadvantaged individuals. The agency serves adults, children, families and veterans in a 13-county area of north Georgia who have limited or no income.
Highland Rivers Foundation was established to fund the financial gaps that exist between state-covered services and what is needed to achieve the highest quality care at HRBH. The Foundation helps to remove barriers to service, expand services, and enhance facilities where services are provided. Through its work, the Foundation helps level the playing field for those with behavioral health challenges.
